Healthy Paleo Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe | Wicked Spatula (2024)

This healthy, dairy-free paleo sweet potato casserole recipe is made with less sugar, but tastes just as sweet. And with BACON added, it's the best sweet potato casserole ever.

by Maya Last Updated on May 29, 2020 16 Comments

The holidays are right around the corner, so it makes sense to share this delicious paleo sweet potato casserole recipe with you. This healthy sweet potato casserole is a lower sugar version to the traditional sweet potato casserole, but just as flavorful. It’s a great option to serve at holiday gatherings, as this dairy-free sweet potato casserole is also gluten-free and grain-free. It still tastes like the best sweet potato casserole to me! I can’t wait for you to make it.

This sweet potato casserole with pecans is super sweet and delicious, but only uses about 6 tablespoons of (coconut) sugar for this entire dish. A standard sweet potato casserole recipe calls for around 2 cups… 2 CUPS. That’s INSANE! I don’t care if it feeds 12 people, that’s still over 33 grams per person just for a serving. No, thank you.

Sweet potatoes are already sweet enough, and when we add a bit of maple syrup and coconut sugar, you don’t need much to bring out the sweetness. Have no fear, this gluten-free sweet potato casserole is still plenty sweet – without the 2 cups of sugar!

Okay, now that my little sugar rant is over, let’s just talk about this streusel. It’s not your standard pecan crumble anymore. No, no, no, I’ve added BACON to it. Everything is better with a little bacon, am I right?

The smoky, salty bacon goes great with the sweet pecans. I’ve always been a lover of the salty/sweet combo, and this is the best way to add sweet and salty flavors to your holiday tables. I simply baked up some bacon and crumbled it in with the pecans and coconut sugar before sprinkling it over the potatoes. Then I let it get all bubbly and gooey in the oven for about 15 minutes. It was honestly hard to wait to dig in, but I had to take pictures before I could do that!

How Do You Make Sweet Potato Casserole?

This baked sweet potato casserole is so easy to make, yet the flavors are complex and slightly fancy. Here are the easy steps to make this healthy sweet potato casserole recipe:

• Cook sweet potatoes. Peel, cut, and boil sweet potatoes until tender. Drain.
• Add in the coconut milk, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. Blend using an immersion blender, until smooth.
• Make streusel. Pulse together the bacon, pecans, sugar, and coconut oil in the food processor.
• Bake your dairy-free sweet potato casserole. Throw it all in a casserole dish, top with streusel, and bake until hot, bubbly, and golden brown. Enjoy!

Is Sweet Potato Casserole Paleo?

Some sweet potato casserole recipes are paleo, and some are not. Sweet potatoes are naturally paleo, but the white sugar or brown sugar usually added to these casseroles is not.

My paleo sweet potato casserole recipe doesn’t have any weird ingredients (or a ridiculous amount of sugar – as noted above!), so you can feel good about eating it.

Can You Eat Sweet Potato Skin?

Yes, you can eat the skin of sweet potatoes.

My recipe for dairy-free sweet potato casserole calls for you to peel the sweet potatoes, but if you want to leave the skin on, you certainly can. The texture is going to be different (a bit more lumpy from the skin), but the dish will be more nutritious.

Are Sweet Potatoes Better For You Than White Potatoes?

Actually, both sweet potatoes and potatoes are good for you if you don’t mind the carbs.

However, sweet potatoes have more fiber and a lower glycemic index, which makes me prefer them.

How Do You Store Paleo Sweet Potato Casserole?

Store leftovers of this dairy-free sweet potato casserole recipe in an airtight container. Your simple sweet potato casserole will last anywhere from 3-5 days in the fridge.

You can warm up the casserole by heating it in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. You just want it to bake long enough to get hot.

Another option is to place the sweet potato casserole recipe with pecans in the microwave. Use a microwave-safe dish and cover it with a paper towel. Heat up for a minute or two at a time, until hot.

Can You Freeze Sweet Potato Casserole?

Yes, you can freeze dairy-free sweet potato casserole. You can prepare it as directed and put it in the casserole dish without baking. Then, cover it with plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe container.

When you are ready to serve it, let it thaw overnight and bake as directed. It’ll still be the best sweet potato casserole recipe even after freezing! 😉

Another option is to prepare and bake the paleo sweet potato casserole completely, then freeze it. Either way will work!

What To Serve With Sweet Potato Casserole

You can serve this sweet potato casserole recipe with any of your favorite main dishes. But since it’s such a popular Thanksgiving dish, here are more paleo Thanksgiving recipes for you:

• Paleo Cranberry Sauce – Naturally sweetened, can you guess with what? It’s whole30 friendly, too!
• Green Beans Almondine – An easier alternative to green bean casserole… though I’ll be sharing that soon as well. 😉
• Paleo Pie Crust – An easy, versatile base for all your pies for the holidays!